Roulette: Rules And Strategies
Have you ever seen a casino without roulette? Probably not and there are plenty of good reasons for that. For starters, it’s one of the most traditional casino games in existence, being almost as old as the casino itself.
While the first casino opened its doors in 17th-century Venice, early references to the game point to 17th-century France. Rumors have it the game was invented by the brilliant mathematician Blaise Pascal. However, it most probably derives from older French games, such as “portique” and “hoca.”
The name “roulette,” which is French for “small wheel” first appeared in the early 18th century, in Bordeaux. The game reached the United States in the 19th century, where it was slightly modified. Nowadays, there are roulette casinos all over the internet.
Rules and Main Variations
Roulette is a game of chance, which means players can’t do much more than pick a number or a group of numbers and hope for the best. The original version consists of a table with 36 numbers, divided into three columns of 12 numbers, with a zero on top. The American version has a double zero to this layout.
While it’s impossible to predict or influence the outcome of a spin, there are quite a few ways of betting with different odds. It means you can choose your bet according to your risk appetite. Here’s a table with the odds for each option.
| Bets | Odds |
| Single number | 35:1 |
| Split (two numbers) | 17:1 |
| Street (three numbers) | 11:1 |
| Square (four numbers) | 8:1 |
| Line (six numbers) | 5:1 |
| Column (12 numbers) | 2:1 |
| High-Low (1 to 18, or 19 to 36) | 1:1 |
| Colors (black or red) | 1:1 |
| Pair/Odd numbers | 1:1 |
There are also a few bets, including zeros, depending on the version you’re playing. Zeros represent the house edge since if the ball lands there, any of the bets mentioned above, which don’t include zeros, are lost. There are mainly three variations to this game, from which the other versions derive. Read about them below.
French Version
The original version has 37 numbers in black and red, with a green zero on top. It includes side bets not found in other versions, like “en prison” and “la partage.” Those options allow players to recover half of the bets lost on even money options. French roulette offers a return to player rate (RTP) of 98.65%.
European Version
The European version looks like the French way, with only one zero and 36 numbers. However, it doesn’t include side bets or special payouts. It also has a slightly lower RTP: 97.30%. It’s a very popular version, with most variations deriving from it.
American Version
This version has 38 numbers, as it adds a double zero to the standard layout. Like the French way, it also has special bets no other version has, like the “basket,” which involves five numbers. The double zero increases the house edge and for this reason, this version has the lowest RTP: 94.74%.
Strategies
While you can’t control the outcome of spin, you can control how you bet. So, roulette strategies aren’t about how you play but how you manage your bankroll. It turns out there are quite a few ways to do so and even James Bond has something to say about it. Check the most popular betting systems below to see which matches your playing style. All those systems are based on even money bets, except for James Bond’s system.
Paroli System
The origins of the Paroli system aren’t clear, but it’s believed to have been invented by Blaise Pascal himself. It’s based on the principle of “positive progression staking,” which means you’ll only raise bets when you win. Otherwise, you keep your bets at the same value. However, you can only increase your bet thrice in a row, resuming the basic betting value after that.
D’Alembert System
This one was invented by Jean-Baptiste le Rond D’Alembert, also in the 18th century. This system involves raising your bets by one betting unit (say $1) every time you lose. Meanwhile, you deduce $1 for each time you win. The main point of this strategy is to even your bets in the long run.
Martingale System
French mathematicians seem to love roulette. The Martingale system was created in the 18th century by the French mathematician, Paul Pierre Levy. It’s based on even money bets and requires you to double your bet every time you lose. For instance, let’s say you’ve lost three bets in a row. It means the first bet was $1, the second was $2, and the third was $4, totaling $7. If you win the next round betting $8, you’ll win $8, which is $1 more than you risked so far.
James Bond’s System
The most famous spy of pop culture doesn’t bet small, of course. This is a cool system to try if you want to strike an impression among your friends. In this system, you bet 20 betting units at once. Here, you’ll place $1 on the zero, $5 on a double street (covering six numbers), and $14 on high numbers. Like all other systems, it doesn’t assure you any winnings, but it does cover a reasonable portion of the table and possible outcomes.